PANJIM: Goans for Dabolim Only (GFDO) has demanded that with the starting of the new terminal at Dabolim the government should abandon plans for the new airport at Mopa and return the acquired land back to farmers from whom it was acquired.
Addressing a press conference Saturday, GFDO convenor Fr Eremito Rebello also said that in the campaign for the next elections they will oppose those candidates who support Mopa and tell the people not to vote for them.
“We congratulate the people of Goa on the inauguration of the new terminal. With this additional land for more facilities, Dabolim airport can be the sole airport in Goa for perpetuity,” Fr Eremito said. “We now want that the government should scrap the Mopa project and give the land back to farmers,” he added.
The GFDO also accused the government of trying to hide fact and give a back door entry to Mopa.
“At the inauguration of the new terminal they said that the capacity is 6.3 million passengers another said it was 5.4 million. But if you use a simple mathematical equation you will realise that the bare minimum capacity of the new Dabolim terminal is to handle 9.3 million passengers,” GFDO member Rajendra Kakodkar said.
“If the current terminal which can handle 700 passengers per hour and 3.5 million passengers a year and the new terminal can handle 2750 passengers per hour, it does not take a genius to multiply and deduce that the new terminal can handle 12 million passengers per year,” Kakodkar said adding that the statements of Parrikar and other bureaucrats and leaders on the occasion of the inaugural were a deception to bring in Mopa from the back door.
